Haruna Iddrisu Demands Ruthless Crackdown on School Bribery
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has issued a stark directive for the immediate criminal prosecution of individuals extorting money for Basic Education Certificate Examination placements and teacher recruitment, warning that such practices corrode public trust in Ghana’s education system. Speaking at a public forum on Tuesday, the Tamale South MP described the acts as indefensible and urged citizens to channel evidence directly to law enforcement agencies.
Addressing the Governance Series convened by Three Reports and the Ghana Statistical Service, Mr. Iddrisu expressed alarm over persistent allegations of pecuniary inducements within the sector. He asserted that soliciting payments for access to schools and public service employment constitutes a direct affront to equity and meritocracy, and must be confronted with institutional resolve.
The Minister was unequivocal in his prescription for redress. “People take money for BECE placement. People take money for teacher recruitment. Is that the country we want to build? Certainly no,” he said. “But when you have the evidence, go to the police station, go to CID headquarters and share your evidence, and they deal ruthlessly with that person.” He further stated, “I’m open. If you find anyone involved in BECE placement who is demanding money from a parent or a student, please report it to the police, not the minister. That’s criminal, and it should be dealt with decisively and ruthlessly.”
The remarks situate the issue within a broader discourse on governance and accountability. Extortion in education has long undermined access for vulnerable households and compromised the integrity of public recruitment. By relocating the locus of reporting from political offices to security institutions, the Minister is seeking to depoliticize enforcement and reinforce procedural channels for anti-corruption action.
Beyond education, Mr. Iddrisu extended the call for vigilance to public procurement, particularly road infrastructure. He urged citizens to interrogate the stewardship of state resources and insist on value for money, noting with concern the premature deterioration of projects shortly after commissioning. The Minister framed transparency and civic oversight as indispensable mechanisms for curbing graft across the public service.
The position signals an intensification of the government’s posture against administrative malfeasance. With BECE placements and teacher postings representing critical gateways for social mobility, the efficacy of this directive will be measured by the willingness of citizens to report malfeasance and the capacity of law enforcement to respond without delay.
Source: Governance Series, Three Reports and GSS
Author: Howedey.com
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